The tour of Canada was over and the plane taxied to a halt at RAF Brize Norton to disgorge its royal passengers. The Prince of Wales stepped into his Aston Martin and drove off accompanied by his detective towards Highgrove, his Gloucestershire home 30 miles away.

His wife was helped into her car by a chauffeur, and driven to a different address.

No, this was not Charles and Diana at the peak of their stony relationship, but Charles and Camilla.

The Duchess of Cornwall was heading for Ray Mill House in Wiltshire, which is still her home even though she and the Prince are approaching their tenth wedding anniversary in April.